Episode Title: “Daisy”

Marshall tries to figure out where Lily went during their big fight.

The So-So:

Manners: So we had to wait nine seasons to learn that Lily can keep a secret, just one at a time. The little girl running around the hotel was a big clue, but Ted isn’t as quick as us. The guys were too busy worrying about if Lily slept with The Captain during her midnight fight escape. Once Marshall punched Lily’s boss, Ted took the guys on a roundabout journey to Wrongville, mistaking her subterfuge as a cover-up for smoking cigarettes. Luckily Billy Zabka and Ranjeet were on hand to distract from Ted’s tedium. So does Ranjeet have a license or what? The flower pot where the guys discovered Lily’s pregnancy test became the name for the future baby. Daisy’s sweet, but the whiplash in Marshall and Lily’s decision-making is killing us. The night started with Marshall’s judgeship becoming official and ended with a look at the family in Italy a year later. Think they’ll have time to change their minds again before the finale?

Jitters: We’ve known for a while that Robin suffers from an extreme case of cold feet before her nuptials. It looks like her mother’s well intended words might be the catalyst. Genevieve spent the episode describing all the reasons Robin’s father was wrong for her. Apparently Robin never considered that she might be marrying a man like her father. In her defense, who knew Robin Sr. pulled plays like the Royal Archduke of Grand Fenwick to get women? So Robin Sr. almost married a stripper and had a questionable job as well. It didn’t seem like Genevieve’s intention was to upset the bride. Still, her only reassuring words were about having a man you can depend on. Barney always comes through in a pinch, but that didn’t seem like enough to calm Robin completely.

Overall:

“Daisy” closed one can of worms while opening another. The Erikson’s will be living in Italy next year — we think. Marshall’s desire to fulfill Lily’s dreams as she gives him the kids he always wanted was sweet, but what’s going to happen to that judgeship? There was very little enjoyment in Robin’s scenes with her mother. They just added to the growing list of finale questions. When will Robin freak out? Will Robin and Barney have a kid? Will The Mother live? We know they have to build up to an epic last show, but this is exhausting. Especially when the coolest part of the night was finding out The Captain is going to marry Boats Boats Boats. He and Ted really like swimming in the same boat don’t they?